A deep dive into Bihar’s development ledger shows MLAs disbursing a whopping ₹3,633 crore on local projects from 2019 to 2024, as per Rural Works Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav. This statistic paints a picture of proactive legislating, where elected officials double as development architects for their regions.
Yadav’s statement in the legislative assembly provided granular insights: funds funneled through the MLA Local Area Development Scheme (MLALADS) covered everything from anganwadi constructions to solar-powered streetlights. In total, over 1.2 lakh works were sanctioned, with 85% reported as completed.
The period under review coincides with Bihar’s post-pandemic recovery phase, where MLA funds bridged gaps left by delayed state tenders. Districts like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Darbhanga saw the highest spends, correlating with population density and urban sprawl pressures.
Notably, women MLAs utilized 92% of their allocations, outperforming their male counterparts in project completion rates—a fact Yadav used to advocate for greater female representation in politics. However, audit reports have flagged irregularities in 12% of projects, prompting the minister to introduce blockchain-based fund tracking.
As elections loom, this expenditure data becomes electoral fodder. The NDA government positions it as a testament to ‘double-engine’ progress, while rivals argue for systemic reforms over ad-hoc funding. Ultimately, the true measure lies in on-ground outcomes—paved paths, lit villages, and empowered communities—that these crores aim to deliver.